50 Best Courses under $50

[5yddraw]

If it hasn't been mentioned yet, Draper Valley in Virginia should get considered for this list

[adam42381]

Fort Myers Country Club doesn't have their winter rates posted, but I believe they are under $50. The course gets a lot of play, so the condition isn't always the best. It's an old Donald Ross design that opened in 1917 and was a favorite of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison when they had homes in the area back in the 1920's. It's a short course with very little water, but it features typically small Donald Ross greens that make it a challenging municipal course.

[Frank Ricard]

[quote name='HiSpeed48' timestamp='1366123605' post='6856443']
Capital Hills Golf Course - NY

$45 non-resident w/ cart

Lots of elevation change. Some cool holes. Always in great condition. And it hosts a Symetra Tour event every year.
[/quote]
Take a drive out west. Unfortunately Albany doesnt have that many nice courses for the money, IMO, when compared to the rest of upstate NY.


OP, most of the courses I was going to recommend have large differences for sat and sun morning rates, and it pushes them a little over 50 bucks. En Joie Golf Course and The Links at Hiawatha, both in the Binghamton NY area. Malone Golf Course(s) in the Adirondacks of NY. Radisson Greens in the Syracuse NY area stick out as places I have played in NY that stood out, and all were less than 50 bucks when I tee'd up. I'd assume some are always less than 50, regardless of when you play it.

[TUGolfer06]

[quote name='Frank Ricard' timestamp='1369010000' post='7065862']
[quote name='HiSpeed48' timestamp='1366123605' post='6856443']
Capital Hills Golf Course - NY

$45 non-resident w/ cart

Lots of elevation change. Some cool holes. Always in great condition. And it hosts a Symetra Tour event every year.
[/quote]
Take a drive out west. Unfortunately Albany doesnt have that many nice courses for the money, IMO, when compared to the rest of upstate NY.


OP, most of the courses I was going to recommend have large differences for sat and sun morning rates, and it pushes them a little over 50 bucks. En Joie Golf Course and The Links at Hiawatha, both in the Binghamton NY area. Malone Golf Course(s) in the Adirondacks of NY. Radisson Greens in the Syracuse NY area stick out as places I have played in NY that stood out, and all were less than 50 bucks when I tee'd up. I'd assume some are always less than 50, regardless of when you play it.
[/quote]

The Binghamton area is home to some quality public courses! Conklin and Chenango are also great tracks. Hiawatha is probably my favorite.

[MountainKing]

I'm trying to think in the Chicago area and even the dumps I think are over 50...there are deals to be had however and you can get on a ton of great courses for 50 or less.

[ricar1610]

[quote name='cmrl1986' timestamp='1366151815' post='6860097']
Rivercut in Springfield, MO. Read best public course in MO and completely worth it. Great elevation changes and the gEounds crew always has it in great shape. Played there all the time during college and miss it.
[/quote]

I second this one - only played it once but for the price it is great

[Frank Ricard]

[quote name='TUGolfer06' timestamp='1369016022' post='7066516']

The Binghamton area is home to some quality public courses! Conklin and Chenango are also great tracks. Hiawatha is probably my favorite.
[/quote]

Agreed. There aren't a ton of *great* courses in Central NY, but the ones that are there are pretty cheap. I should have included Conklin.

Chenango and Green Lakes are both ~25 dollar state park courses with good layouts that would benefit a little from better upkeep, IMO But for 25 bucks, what do you expect? I play them both and enjoy them. Links at Erie Village is another decent track in Syracuse that can be played for ~35 bucks. It lengthens out nicely from the tips, and only has 3 or 4 generic holes. Seven Oaks is 70-80 bucks I think, but that course would be ~130 if it wasnt in tiny Hamilton NY. Fantastic track and very challenging. I wish Radisson Greens was kept in better shape like it was under the previous owners, as that is a really great example of how RTJ set up courses as he got older.

[TUGolfer06]

[quote name='Frank Ricard' timestamp='1369066564' post='7069268']
[quote name='TUGolfer06' timestamp='1369016022' post='7066516']
The Binghamton area is home to some quality public courses! Conklin and Chenango are also great tracks. Hiawatha is probably my favorite.
[/quote]

Agreed. There aren't a ton of *great* courses in Central NY, but the ones that are there are pretty cheap. I should have included Conklin.

Chenango and Green Lakes are both ~25 dollar state park courses with good layouts that would benefit a little from better upkeep, IMO But for 25 bucks, what do you expect? I play them both and enjoy them. Links at Erie Village is another decent track in Syracuse that can be played for ~35 bucks. It lengthens out nicely from the tips, and only has 3 or 4 generic holes. Seven Oaks is 70-80 bucks I think, but that course would be ~130 if it wasnt in tiny Hamilton NY. Fantastic track and very challenging. I wish Radisson Greens was kept in better shape like it was under the previous owners, as that is a really great example of how RTJ set up courses as he got older.
[/quote]

I agree that Chenango could use some better upkeep. It's still a fun place to spend 4 hours.

Seven Oaks, aka Colgate University's course, is awesome. I played it a few years ago and came away extremely impressed. It's consistently ranked among the Top 20 college courses in the country. Cornell's RTJ layout, also ranked in the Top 20, is on my bucket list.

Seneca Falls CC is a good course at a very reasonable price. I played there in 2010 on a weekend and it was definitely less than $50.

Panorama, which is halfway between Binghamton and Scranton, is another good layout for less than $50. It was the the first course in Pennsylvania to exceed 7000 yards.

[melo]

I think in NC it is a no brainer, Tanglewood. Hosted the 1974 pga championship, hosted a senior tour event until 2003, and the highest rate of the entire year with cart is $48.

[melo]

What ever happened with this? Was an article ever written?

[asommers14]

I would be interested in the final article as well

[schulzea]

Shaker run in lebanon ohio is a great track. Weekdays is under $50, and weekends can be had under $50 as well with cart depending on time.

[QMany]

I finally got the opportunity to play Wild Horse in Gothenburg, NE. One of the best courses I have ever played. Greens were immaculate, fast, firm, and true. The greens were on par with Sand Hills Golf Club, IMHO. I wish it was closer, I could play that course every day.

[deadsolid...shank]

[quote name='QMany' timestamp='1378841140' post='7827429']
I finally got the opportunity to play Wild Horse in Gothenburg, NE. One of the best courses I have ever played. Greens were immaculate, fast, firm, and true. The greens were on par with Sand Hills Golf Club, IMHO. I wish it was closer, I could play that course every day.
[/quote]

Q, from what you said I guess that was your first trip to Wild Horse. It's pretty amazing to have a course like that sitting out basically in the middle of nowhere. I think the only course I've played with better greens than Wild Horse was Pebble Beach, and I like the green fees a lot better at Wild Horse.

[The Pearl]

[quote name='QMany' timestamp='1378841140' post='7827429']
I finally got the opportunity to play Wild Horse in Gothenburg, NE. One of the best courses I have ever played. Greens were immaculate, fast, firm, and true. The greens were on par with Sand Hills Golf Club, IMHO. I wish it was closer, I could play that course every day.
[/quote]

How hard is it to get a tee time at Wild Horse? I am in Utah, but have driven that route many a times as my daughter is a Creighton alum.. I am toying with simply driving and staying and playing 3 or 4 days next season.

[The Pearl]

Great course in Riverside, CA. Oak Quarry. Monday-Thursday $50 twilight rate. Great layout, friendly staff, great conditioning and not a weak hole on the course. It pulls off a nice balance of desert/mountain course without some of the goofiness that creeps into some mountain courses.

[FSCMatt]

[quote name='roehmj1' timestamp='1366471319' post='6883133']
Harrison Hills, Attica, IN. Really fun layout. Mixture of classic old design (1920's) and new holes added in mid 90's when course was expanded to 18 holes. Always in great shape.

$40 w/cart on weekday
$45 w/cart on weekend
www.harrisonhills.com
[/quote]

+1

[wakeusam]

inniscrone in avondale, pa

[deadsolid...shank]

[quote name='The Pearl' timestamp='1379013020' post='7839703']
[quote name='QMany' timestamp='1378841140' post='7827429']
I finally got the opportunity to play Wild Horse in Gothenburg, NE. One of the best courses I have ever played. Greens were immaculate, fast, firm, and true. The greens were on par with Sand Hills Golf Club, IMHO. I wish it was closer, I could play that course every day.
[/quote]

How hard is it to get a tee time at Wild Horse? I am in Utah, but have driven that route many a times as my daughter is a Creighton alum.. I am toying with simply driving and staying and playing 3 or 4 days next season.
[/quote]

You should do it Pearl. It's a municiple course in a small town so tee times shouldn't be a problem. They do however host some outings throughout the summer so you should call ahead so you don't run into one of those. You'll be glad you stopped.

[Demo1]

I recently had a chance to play Buffalo Dunes in Garden City, KS, and I heartily recommend it for this list. A very mature and well-maintained course that's challenging and fun. $38 w/cart on weekdays, and regular deals on Golf Now for $14.50, which is an outright steal!

[oldschoolrocker]

Check out Santee National and Lake Marion in SC. Great place for a golfing/fishing trip.

[Tanner25]

Check out Santee National and Lake Marion in SC. Great place for a golfing/fishing trip.

Check out Santee National and Lake Marion in SC. Great place for a golfing/fishing trip.

 

Sorry, to revive an old thread. Played Lake Marion yesterday in Santee and it was in great shape for recent aeration and a low rate worked. Highly recommend for a quick 9 or 18 when travelling on I-95.

[oldschoolrocker]

Glad to hear you had an enjoyable time.

[TeeAreNY]

New Jersey: Hominy Hill in Colts Neck. Part of the Monmouth County Park System. Robert Trent Jones design and meticulously maintained. $46 for residents on weekends.

[Schoolboy]

This is a great thread. Let’s re-visit it now that we’re five years later.

[Eric267]

Dayton valley about an hour outside Reno NV. Palmer course that's only cheap since its kind of in the middle of nowhere

[dogleg0425]

Can certainly agree with Arrowhead Pointe, Elberton Ga. Is amazing.

 

Old Silo in Mt. Sterling Ky. is now closed permanently.

 

Dale Hollow State Park and Eagle Ridge State park courses in kentucky are great values and both under 50 dollars.

[ATXHorn]

I really enjoyed this one in Oregon, OH last fall. Not much better in that area that I've seen.

 

http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/golf/maumeebay

[54putts]

Royal Hylands in Knightstown, IN. About 30 miles East of Indy. $49 peak.

[Tanner25]

Glad to hear you had an enjoyable time.

 

thx